Table 4.

Cannabinoids anti-cancer potential in CRC.

Phytocannabinoids	Model type	Antitumor effect/mechanism of action	References
CBG	in vitro (Caco-2, HCT116) in vivo (athymic nude female mice, xenograft-HCT116; azoxymethane induced colon cancer model)	Pro-apoptotic, antiproliferative; prompted ROS production, increased CHOP mRNA, increased levels of caspase 3, 7 activity; in xenograft tumors - reduced tumor growth, in AOM tumors – completely suppressed ACF, reduced number of tumors	(101)
CBD	(Caco-2, HCT116) in vivo (male ICR mice, AOM induced CRC)	Antiproliferative; activation of PPAR-γ, TRPV1, CB1R, DNA; protection from oxidative stress, elevated levels of endocannabinoids; the chemopreventive effect in AOM model –reduced number of tumors, ACF, polyps; activated caspase-3, suppressed phospho-Akt protein	(102)
	in vitro (HCT116 and DLD-1)	Pro-apoptotic; Noxa activation, ROS elevation, induction of ER stress	(103)
	in vivo (male BALB/c mice, xenograft-CT26)	Anti-angiogenic, antimetastatic; VEGF inhibition	(104)
THC	in vitro (SW480, HCT-15, HT29, Caco-2,HCT116, SW620)	Pro-apoptotic; CB1 activation and inhibition of PI3K-AKT, RAS-MAPK cascade, BAD and caspase-3 activation	(106)